The Talisman of Happiness: The Most Iconic Italian Cookbook Ever Written

Few cookbooks have had the cultural impact in their home country that this book has in Italy. First published in 1929, Ada Boni’s expansive guide to Italian home cooking became a national reference point—passed between generations, gifted to newlyweds, and treated as a household essential. This is the first complete English-language edition, giving American readers access to its remarkable scope.

With 1,680 recipes drawn from across Italy’s culinary traditions, the book offers a grounded, comprehensive view of how Italians have cooked at home for nearly a century. Each recipe has been reformatted for clarity, with ingredients separated from instructions and measurements given in familiar American standards. The result is far easier to navigate than Boni’s original single-paragraph style, without sacrificing depth.

The editors approached the translation with a clear editorial framework: they focused on enduringly relevant Italian recipes, excluding dishes that rely on outdated techniques, ingredients that have largely fallen out of use, or non-Italian content added in later editions. 

The book’s design is straightforward, with occasional two-color illustrations and a clear layout. Nearly 1,700 recipes are packed into a single volume, using small type on a white background to preserve readability while fitting the material into 912 pages.

While this edition doesn’t correspond exactly to any one version currently in print in Italy, it stays true to the spirit of the original: a dense, practical, and serious guide to the everyday food of Italian households. For home cooks looking to understand Italian cuisine at its foundation, it’s a major and long-awaited resource.

Hardcover. Line illustrations.